7. Chapter Seven
7
Evan
After a long day traveling, it’s good to be back on the stage and listening to the fans scream our names from every direction. I’m strumming on my bass, listening to it thump through the speakers surrounding me, while Brent sings into the mic and throws his beanie into the front row.
I smirk, watching as the crowd of girls claw at each other to get hold of it and I know what’s next without even having to look at him – he’s winking at the group. He turns around, nodding his head at me, and I make my own move into the center of the stage.
Screams come from each direction, neon green lights waving excitedly in the air, and I smirk into the camera as it approaches me. Brent’s vocals come to a stop, and all that you can hear echoing around is the sound of my solo.
Everyone in front of me watches in amazement, their eyes trying to follow my fingers, but I know it never works out for them – I’m just that good. When my solo is about to come to an end, I quickly take a Sharpie out of my pocket and scribble my autograph onto my guitar pick.
With a bright smile at my fans, I toss the plastic piece into the front row exactly like Brent did with his beanie, but instead of winking at them I blow a quick kiss. I pull the extra pick out of my pocket, which is always on me, and finish up my solo while getting back into my position.
Next up is Jace, who the women have been crazy over since he joined the band, and the man knows it. He takes his time getting into the middle of the stage, throwing a smile at the crowd, and then he gets into his guitar solo.
Brent’s jumping around the stage, bumping his head along to it, being the hype man he’s turned into since Ryker left, and I follow his lead. There’s sweat pouring down my back from the stage lights shining brightly on us, but I’ve never felt more alive than in this moment.
Just as Jace’s solo is ending, which signals the end of the concert, he swivels his hips – a signature move – then throws his sweaty t-shirt into the crowd below. None of them claw for it, paying more attention to Jace’s glistening bare chest, and he saunters off the stage with the two of us while finishing off the last chords.
When we get backstage, Mia is already glued to my side and following my lead toward the dressing room. I already know the drill, so I hang back and let her push the door open to do a quick inspection. She comes back out, her gaze focused straight ahead, and I wink when her eyes fall onto my frame.
I chuckle when she rolls her eyes, then saunter into the dressing room to change my clothes.
It only takes a few minutes before I’m walking back out, greeted by Mia’s straight posture right next to the doorway, and I lean into the frame with a smile. “Awe, you waitin’ up for me, darlin’?”
She stiffens, but it only lasts a few seconds before she’s shaking her head and glaring at me. “What will it take for you to stop?”
I lean forward, my lips popped out for a kiss, and say, “A kiss makes everything go away, don’t you know?”
I’m waiting for her response, but when it doesn’t come, I pop an eye open and find her staring at my lips. There’s an emotion swirling in her eyes that I can’t point out and it’s gone before I can blink. “Let’s go, you need a shower.”
Without complaining, I follow her closely to the exit she had planned for me and bump into her shoulder playfully.
Mia huffs in annoyance but doesn’t say anything – that’s new. There’s already a car waiting outside for me and I hang back, earning a glare from my bodyguard that only makes me want her more.
She works for me. I shouldn’t feel this insane attraction, but I do.
At first, I wanted to rile her up and get a reaction out of her when I called her nicknames. Now though? I love the way it feels coming out of my mouth.
Love . That’s definitely not a word I should be using about someone I only just met.
“I don’t bite,” I say with a smirk, looking her up and down suggestively before wagging my eyebrows. “Unless you want me to.”
As we near the exit, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Something feels off. Mia must sense it, too; her easy stride becomes more purposeful, her eyes scanning our surroundings with heightened intensity.
Her face turns red, and I’m about to make another comment when she charges toward me. One second, I’m standing on the ground; the next, she’s got me knocked down with her frame covering mine. My length hardens when she pulls her gun out and aims straight ahead, a fierce look in her eyes that reminds me of the stare my mother used to give other parents when I was young.
Even though I’ve got the looks now, it hasn't always been that way. I was a chubby kid in school and the subject of bullying until I finally grew into myself in high school. Every time I’d walk through the door, crying to my mom about one of the other kids picking on me, she would demand to know who it was.
Each time, no matter what she had to do, she would show up to the school just as the bully was getting out of his parent's car, and she’d get into an argument with their parents. That look she would get – eyes blazing, face red as a tomato from anger, and posture more than ready to take anything on – is exactly how Mia looks right now.
It’s the mother in her, no doubt, and it’s only made her more attractive in a matter of seconds.
I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t realize she’s screaming at someone ahead of us with the gun still pointed up. “Put your hands up and slowly back away. Now!”
Mia’s tiny enough that I’m able to turn my head and catch sight of the crazed man standing right where I was at. He almost attacked me.
The man smirks, lifting his hands into the air slowly, and then he snaps his gaze down to me. He points a thin finger at me, turning it into a gun, then acts as though he’s pulling the trigger. Meanwhile, the exit is getting shoved open, and a swarm of security guards step out. While they restrain the man, red and blue lights illuminate the back alley with their sirens blaring loudly.
Mia pushes off me, brushing hair that fell in front of her face out of her eyes, then shoves a hand in my direction. I’m barely able to move, so I guess it’s a good thing she’s got the strength to lift me up when I place my palm into hers.
I stare at the crazed man, who’s smiling wider as he gets escorted past me by a police officer, and I shiver from how sinister it looks. If he wanted to, he could’ve easily taken me and Mia down. The guy comes to a stop, fighting to be taken further away, and he narrows his eyes at me.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get what’s coming to you, boy,” he sneers before allowing the officer to shove him into the back of his car.
My heart is hammering loudly, my mouth popped open in shock, and even though I see a hand moving in front of my face, I can’t bother to blink.
This is getting serious.
My mind races, replaying the man's sneer, his finger pointed at me like a gun. The adrenaline that's kept me going starts to fade, leaving me feeling hollow and shaky. I've dealt with overzealous fans before, but this? This is something else entirely. For the first time since I started this career, I feel genuinely afraid.
Not just for myself, but for my bandmates, for the crew... for Mia.
“Evan,” the voice says, cutting into the blood pumping in my ears. I try to shake it away, but it embeds itself further into me. “Evan, look at me.”
This time, I blink and realize my body is shaking uncontrollably. When I glance to my right, Mia is standing there with nothing but concern on her face, and she snaps her fingers in front of me.
“Can you hear me?”
I nod, but I’m too shaken to speak.
She frowns but is content with my response and carefully pulls me toward the waiting car. When we slide inside, it’s only the two of us, and I’m more than grateful for that. The plan was to get into the waiting car, drive around for a bit, then come back here and get onto the tour bus. Nothing sounds worse than stepping onto it and seeing everyone’s pitying stares.
Mia rattles off an address quickly, then leans forward to look into my eyes. “Evan, I need you to talk to me. Let me know that you’re okay.”
“I-I’m… okay,” I say between ragged breaths, then I run my hands through my hair. “What the hell…was that?”
“You need to take deep breaths, Evan. Watch me,” Mia says, her hand falling onto my thigh as she mimics the deep breaths she’s asking for.
All I can focus on is her touch on me, though, which seems to do the job all on its own.
“Good,” she says softly, throwing me a small smile.
“Who was that, Mia?”
Mia sighs heavily. “If I had to guess, someone your stalker – that’s what I’m classifying them as at this point – hired to get to you.”
“This is crazy,” I mutter. “What the hell am I supposed to do?”
“We’ll up the security at the concerts, and I’ll get in touch with my agency and see if they can send extra people to help me out.” She squeezes my thigh, something I’m not sure she should be doing in the first place, and adds, “You’re safe with me, Evan. Do you trust that?”
If she hadn’t just saved me from that man, I’d tell her no way in hell, but I nod in response and lean back into the leather seats.
“We’re going to get situated in a hotel, away from everyone for the night, then first thing in the morning, we need to head back to the tour bus so I can talk to Carmen. Does that sound okay?”
I nod, grateful for her quick thinking. The thought of facing the concerned looks from the band and crew right now makes my stomach churn. Plus, if someone's targeting me, staying somewhere unexpected could throw them off. "Smart move," I murmur. "But won't the others worry?"
Mia pulls out her phone. "I'll send Carmen a secure message. Just enough info to keep them from panicking, not enough to compromise our location."
My shoulders relax, relief flooding through me that I won’t have to deal with anyone but Mia for the night, and I nod. “That’s exactly what I need.”
Just as we finish our discussion, the car comes to a stop outside a sleazy hotel that doesn’t look anything like the type of place I’d stay in.
As if catching my nose scrunch at the sight, Mia chuckles and nudges my shoulder. “If you don’t want people to find you, you gotta go where they won’t look.”
She just keeps getting better.
I throw my hood up, blocking everyone’s view from my face, and follow her through the front doors. It only takes a few moments before Mia is checking us in and leading me down a long hallway where the elevators are located.
When we finally get outside what’s supposed to be my room, I pull the door open and wave a hand inside the doorway.
Mia shakes her head, chewing on the inside of her cheek nervously, and says, “I’m going to stand watch outside the door, you just go inside and get some rest. I’m sure you need it.”
“You’re the best, darlin’. I’m not opposed to you cuddling up with me, though,” I say with a wink.
She throws her head back and groans. “You’re unbelievable.”
After an air kiss in her direction, I quickly push through the room and shut the door behind me. If I’m being honest… the last thing I want is to be alone right now, and I wish I could wrap my arms around Mia’s small frame as I doze off.
I've never felt safer with anyone. As exhaustion is finally taking over, I realize that my trust in her goes beyond her role as my bodyguard.
This situation just got a hell of a lot harder.